The Lebanese judiciary is accelerating efforts to secure the extradition of Igor Grechushkin, the owner of the ammonium nitrate ship linked to the 2020 Beirut port explosion, Al-Modon news portal reported. 

After preparing his extradition file, Judge Mirna Kallas of the Public Prosecution Office at the Court of Cassation traveled to Bulgaria this week to deliver the dossier in person and seek approval for his transfer to Lebanese authorities.

Bulgaria has given Lebanon a 40-day window to request Grechushkin’s extradition, which expires on October 15. Kallas opted for a direct handover to make the most of the remaining time and enable face-to-face negotiations with Bulgarian officials.

Judicial sources told Al-Modon that Grechushkin’s testimony is critical to the ongoing investigation into the port blast, potentially shedding light on long-standing questions. He was previously questioned in Cyprus shortly after the explosion and cooperated at the time, but officials said a second interview, five years into the extensive probe, would carry far greater significance.

Only hours remain before Bulgaria decides whether to approve his extradition to Lebanese investigating judge Tarek Bitar for questioning or to release him in mid-October. Lebanese authorities have prepared contingency plans for all outcomes, including lifting travel restrictions on Bitar so he can travel to Bulgaria if necessary.

Bitar’s travel ban could be lifted either if the current public prosecutor, Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar, reverses a previous decision by former prosecutor Ghassan Oweidat, or if Bitar requests the change from investigating judge Habib Rizkallah in the “abuse of authority” case.

Lebanon hopes Bulgaria will comply, but Russian claims on Grechushkin, who holds Russian nationality, could complicate matters, as Russia has historically refused to cooperate with Beirut on the port investigation. If Bulgaria denies extradition, Lebanon plans to request judicial cooperation, potentially questioning Grechushkin on Bulgarian soil or via Zoom.